VCEDC Image Selection Process
Overview
The VCEDC website redesign uses a Miro board as the primary tool for collaborative image selection. Kathy Schmitz (VCEDC) works with the Asymmetric team to review page layouts and flag preferred images via Miro comments, with the designer (Lucas) implementing final selections.
A key constraint throughout this process: Vilas County is a small, tight-knit community where residents will immediately recognize whether photos are genuinely local. Stock or generic imagery is not appropriate — authenticity and local recognition are explicit requirements.
See also: [1] | [2]
Miro Board Workflow
Board Structure
- The Miro board contains multiple rounds of page layouts, preserved in sequence so earlier feedback can be referenced if decisions change.
- The most recent layout version is the correct one to work from. To reduce confusion, the active version for each page is marked with a colored highlight box (red or similar high-contrast color).
- Older layout versions are retained but visually de-emphasized; pages with minimal revision history (e.g., Resources, Contact) may have only one or two versions.
How Kathy Comments on Images
- Log in to Miro via the invitation link (guest access; no team board creation needed).
- Navigate to the highlighted (active) layout for the page being reviewed.
- Select the comment bubble tool from the left toolbar.
- Click on the image placeholder to attach a comment.
- Tag @Melissa (and optionally @Lucas, the designer) in the comment body.
- To reference a specific photo from the Google Drive library: open the photo, click Share → Copy Link, then paste the link into the Miro comment.
- Submit with the blue arrow. Repeat for each image slot — the comment tool must be re-selected between placements.
Miro will send email notifications to tagged team members when comments are posted.
Designer Latitude
Kathy selects which photos she wants; the designer determines orientation and cropping to fit the layout dimensions. If a preferred photo faces the wrong direction for a given slot, the designer will handle it — Kathy does not need to account for this.
Image Selection Criteria
Authenticity First
Vilas County residents will scrutinize photos. Generic scenery or unrecognizable business owners will undermine credibility. Preferred sources:
- Photos Kathy provides directly (local businesses, VCEDC events, recognizable landmarks)
- Photos of known community members (e.g., Courtney, Dr. Katie at Eagle River Animal Hospital)
- Shots that community members will recognize and share ("hey, that's our lake")
Blend of Scenery and Business
- Each page should mix scenic/outdoor imagery with business-focused photos.
- Avoid heavy duplication of the same photo across pages. Some overlap is acceptable (e.g., broadband and remote work pages may share an image), but it should be intentional and minimal.
Photo Quality Bar
- Hero images and above-the-fold placements require high-quality, presentable photos — not candid or low-resolution shots.
- Photos that are outdated in context (e.g., referencing discontinued programs) may still be usable if the subject matter remains relevant.
Specific Decisions from Working Session
| Location | Decision |
|---|---|
| Homepage header | Remove "About Us" — confirmed for deletion |
| Homepage messaging | Confirmed: "Our business expertise, your success" |
| Homepage hero image | Needs a business owner photo; photo shoot is not happening; Eagle River Animal Hospital (Business of the Year) photo identified as strong candidate — crop tightly to remove background hallway |
| Mid-page section | Photo of Vanessa on laptop by the lake under consideration |
| Staff photo | Roger Wolf needs to retake his photo — Kathy will coordinate |
Action Items (as of working session)
- [ ] Kathy — Work through Miro board page by page, adding comments with Google Drive photo links for each image slot
- [ ] Kathy — Ask Roger Wolf to retake his staff photo and submit to the drive
- [ ] Melissa — Remain available for Miro questions; monitor board for new comments
- [ ] Melissa — Ensure photos sent via email (including Vanessa laptop/lake shot) are copied to the shared Google Drive
- [ ] Team — Follow-up review meeting scheduled for November 2nd
Notes on Google Drive Photo Library
Kathy found the Drive difficult to browse because photos appear as links rather than thumbnails. Workarounds discussed:
- Double-click a file in Drive to open a preview, then use left/right arrow keys to scroll through images sequentially.
- Copy the share link from the preview and paste directly into Miro comments.
- Melissa can rename screenshot files with descriptive names to make identification easier.
Related
- [1]
- [2]
- [3]